Taking Sides: "Blank Generation" VS. "Pretty Vacant"

Many a learned rock tome is quick to point out that Malcolm McLaren -- after basically interning around NYC's fledgling punk scene and abortively attempting to manage the then-last-legged New York Dolls through their ill-conceived Communist Red Patent Leather phase -- basically latched with slavish fascination onto Richard Hell. Sartorially, tonsorially and philosophically, Hell singularly personified the cultural coup d'etat McLaren had envisioned. Legend has it that he basically projected Hell onto his ragtag ensemble of youthful Sex Pistols, and commissioned them to come up with "their own" version of Hell's classic, "Blank Generation."

The end result was, of course, "Pretty Vacant," featuring some iconoclastic lyrics from Johnny Rotten and an insanely amazing riff, purportedly pilfered from the middle-eight of Abba's "S.O.S". (was it Matlock or Jones who came up with this?)

Decades later, both tracks are regarded as --- wait for it -- seminal anthems of Punk Rock, but I pu it to you....WHICH IS BETTER?

As much as I reside in the Richard Hell camp (I live in New York, thus -- it's the law), I must sheepishly confess to thinking that "Pretty Vacant" is simply a better song -- beefier, catchier and, hell, just a lot more fun. Where Hell yodels and hoots in self-loathing and nihilistic indifference, Rotten spits out verses with vitriolic zeal, followed by a rousing football terrace chant that never fails to get everyone grunting along. "WE'RE SO PRETTY, OH SO PRETTY!". Rotten's gleeful emphasis on the "CUNT" syllable of "vacant" seals the deal -- to say nothing of the classic "AND WE DON'T CARE!" break.

That all said, the disjointed spill of fragmenting guitars that ushers in "Blank Generation" is no less amazing. Much less metallic and more old school rock'n'roll (albeit drunken and wonderfully -retarded sounded), "Blank Generation" doesn't kick down doors like "Pretty Vacant," but it's still a righteous declaration of antipathy.

What say you?